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Getting Here

The Great Lakes is closer than you think!

Less than 3 hours from Sydney by car, with coach, train and flight connections within easy reach, the Great Lakes is accessible for everyone. 

Once you're here it's easy to get around by car, rental car or local bus service.

   Getting to the Great Lakes  

 Need help?
 

 If you need help planning
 your itinerary or booking
 accommodation contact our
 friendly information team.
 
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  Local knowledge can help
 you make good decisions!
 BY CAR    

Great Lakes by Car
The Great Lakes is situated on the New South Wales Mid North Coast, just off the Pacific Highway.  Improvements in the Highway now make it easily 2.5hrs drive from Sydney's Northern suburbs to Tea Gardens & 3.5hrs to Forster-Tuncurry. With a journey of less than 2hrs to Forster-Tuncurry from Newcastle.  Travelling south it is an 8hrs drive from Brisbane to Forster/Tuncurry.  From western NSW the drive from Tamworth is less than 5 hrs.

 

  

 
 BY COACH      

Great Lakes by Coach


Busways provides daily services linking Taree, Forster, Stroud, Pacific Palms, Tea Gardens, Hawks Nest, Newcastle and Sydney.
For Busways information & to book visit www.busways.com.au or call 1800 043 263.  Tickets can also be purchased from Forster Visitor Information Centre.

Greyhound Australia operate daily coach services from Brisbane & Sydney.
For Greyhound information & to book visit www.greyhound.com.au or call 1300 473 946.

Holiday Coast Connections operate a daily service (except Sunday) between Port Macquarie & Newcastle, via Taree.
For Holiday Coast Connections information & to book visit www.holidaycoastconnections.com.au or call 02 6581 5557
 

  

 
 BY TRAIN    

Great Lakes by train


The XPT train service between Sydney and Brisbane stops daily at Taree, 30mins North of Forster-Tuncurry. 

To book or contact CountryLink visit www.countrylink.info or call 13 22 32.

 

  

 
 BY AIR    

Great Lakes by air


Virgin Blue & Jet Star both operate flights to Newcastle airport. With Rex Airlines flying into Taree from Sydney.

For information visit www.newcastleairport.com.au, www.virginblue.com.au, www.jetstar.com.au, www.rex.com.au.  

Airport Shuttle Services are provided by Newcastle Transfer Services 02 4928 9822 & Raymond Terrace Airport Bus 02 4956 9299 / 0425 373 227.
 

  

 
 GETTING AROUND IN THE GREAT LAKES ~ BY BUS    

Getting atround by bus


Forster Coaches provide regular daily services between Forster and Tuncurry as well as a regional service from Tarbuck Bay, Smiths Lake and Pacific Palms. 

For Forster Coach information visit www.forsterbus.com.au or call 02 6554 6431.

 

  

 
 GETTING AROUND IN THE GREAT LAKES ~ BY RENTAL CAR    

Getting around by rental car


The best way to explore the region is on a self-drive tour.  To experience the best of beach, National Park and hinterland, pick up a rental car locally from one of the following national hire companies.

Hertz 1300 767 339.  
Budget Car Rentals 02 6551 0899
Thrifty Car Rentals 02 6554 5125

Local taxi services are provided by Forster-Tuncurry Taxis 02 6554 6555 & Hawks Nest Tea Gardens Taxi & Hire 0408 667 9510.

  

 
 GETTING AROUND IN THE GREAT LAKES ~ BY FERRY    

Getting around by ferry


A unique way to get between Nelsons Bay and Tea Gardens is to take a ferry! Port Stephens Ferry Service & Nelson Bay Charters both operate daily services.

For Port Stephens Ferry information & to book visit www.portstephensferryservice.com.au or call 0412 682 117 / 0419 417 689.

For Nelson Bay Charters information call 0408 494 262.